The Lion Rampant ___________________________ The Lion Rampant flag is also called the Royal Flag of Scotland - having been used by the Kings of Scotland, with the first King to have done so being Alexander II (1214-1249). It is much older than the St Andrew's flag and should now only be used by the Queen in her role as the Queen of Scotland. Scottish Thistle _______________________ SCOTLAND'S EMBLEM The Scottish thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to maintain the element of surprise the Norsemen removed their shoes. As they drew near to the Scots, one of Haakon's men unfortunately stood on one of these spiny little defenders and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen of the advancing Norsemen, and the Scots who won the day. Others say it was the Danes, but regardless of which it was, the thistle became an important Scottish symbol. The first use of the Thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470 THE ORDER OF THE THISTLE In 1540 by King James V who being honoured with the order of the Garter from his uncle King Henry VIII of England and with the Goldern Fleece from the Emperor, and the order of St Michael from France, made the order of the Thistle for himself and twelve knights, in imitation of Christ and his twelve apostles. Then celebrating all the festivals of the orders, he set up their arms and badges over the gate of his palace at Linlithgow, joing St. Andrew with them.  The common badge (shown above) worn by the knights is, a cross surmounted by a star of four silver points, and over them a green circle bordered and lettered with gold, containing the motto "Nemo me impune lacessit", "No-one harms me with impunity". Visitor Menu |
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